The General Certificate of Secondary Education:

- Introduced in 1986 with first examination in 1988.

- Aimed at students at key stage 4 (14 to 16 year olds) and further education and sixth form students.

- Assessed by the Assessment and Qualifications Alliance (AQA), Edexcel and Oxford, Cambridge and RSA (OCR) awarding bodies, and overseen by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA).

- Recently revised for examination in 2003, except for the two GCSEs in English literature and language which will be in 2004.

- In 2001, 57.1% of students achieved grades A* to C.

- Students may progress to AS and A level, NVQs, a Modern Apprenticeship programme or employment.

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